Economy, jobs and prices in Otaru, Japan: official figures
Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Otaru averaged 2.98 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 4th lowest of 262 cities and below the national average of 3,933.7 thousand yen per taxpayer. It is income before deductions, so it is not take-home pay.
How much income do people in Otaru earn in total?
Residents of Otaru had 123.9 billion yen of taxable income in total in fiscal 2024, from 41,509 resident-tax payers (37.3 per 100 residents, below the national figure (45.3)).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people work in Otaru?
At the 2020 census 44,785 residents of Otaru were in work and 47,635 were in the labour force (working or seeking work), equal to 40.2 employed people per 100 residents of all ages, below the national figure (45.7).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Otaru?
The unemployment rate in Otaru was 6.0% at the 2020 census (2,850 people out of 47,635 in the labour force), 3rd highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (3.8%). The census was taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Otaru?
By sector, 1.4% of employed residents of Otaru worked in primary industries (farming, forestry, fishing), 16.9% in secondary (mining, construction, manufacturing) and 79.8% in tertiary industries (services and the rest) at the 2020 census. Nationally the shares were 3.4%, 23.0% and 70.6%. The three do not add to 100% because some jobs are not classified.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people are self-employed in Otaru?
82.6% of employed residents of Otaru were employees (excluding company directors), 7.5% were self-employed business owners and 6.3% were directors, at the 2020 census; nationally 81.4% were employees.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people commute into Otaru?
At the 2020 census 7,998 residents of Otaru commuted to work in another municipality and 10,725 people living elsewhere commuted in. The daytime population was 114,479, or 102.9 per 100 night-time residents, 55th highest of 262 cities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 5,063 private-sector business establishments employing 47,404 people in 2021 (government offices are excluded), about 9.4 workers per establishment.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is manufacturing in Otaru?
Factories in Otaru shipped goods worth 220.0 billion yen in 2023 and employed 7,362 people in manufacturing in 2024.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much do shops and wholesalers sell in Otaru?
Wholesale and retail businesses in Otaru sold goods worth 251.5 billion yen in the year covered by the 2021 Economic Census (sales for 2020), across 1,199 commercial establishments employing 8,386 people.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many shops and restaurants are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 1,097 retail stores and 616 eating and drinking places in 2021, including 17 large retail stores (50+ staff) and 1 department stores or general supermarkets.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much farmland is there in Otaru?
Farmland in Otaru covered 2.00 square kilometres in 2024, 0.8% of the total area.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much waste does Otaru recycle?
Otaru produced 42,280 tonnes of household and business waste in 2023 and recycled 15.1% of it.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow Otaru compares with other cities in Japan
Taxable income per resident-tax payer (fiscal 2024)
Otaru ranks 259 of 262, highest first. Municipal resident tax base before deductions, from SSDS items C120110 and C120120
| Rank | City | Taxable income per resident-tax payer |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Sakata | 3,038 thousand yen |
| 257 | Miyakonojo | 3,038 thousand yen |
| 258 | Tsuruoka | 2,985 thousand yen |
| 259 | Otaru | 2,985 thousand yen |
| 260 | Oshu | 2,984 thousand yen |
| 261 | Ichinoseki | 2,899 thousand yen |
| 262 | Uruma | 2,879 thousand yen |
Unemployment rate (2020 census)
Otaru ranks 3 of 262, highest first. Unemployed people as a share of the labour force, taken during the Covid-19 pandemic
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naha | 6.0% |
| 2 | Okinawa | 6.0% |
| 3 | Otaru | 6.0% |
| 4 | Uruma | 5.8% |
| 5 | Sakado | 5.7% |
| 6 | Kadoma | 5.7% |
| 7 | Ginowan | 5.6% |
Daytime population per 100 residents (2020 census)
Otaru ranks 55 of 262, highest first. Above 100 means more people are in the city by day than live there.
| Rank | City | Daytime population per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Tottori | 103.0 |
| 53 | Nagano | 103.0 |
| 54 | Takamatsu | 102.9 |
| 55 | Otaru | 102.9 |
| 56 | Shizuoka | 102.9 |
| 57 | Isahaya | 102.8 |
| 58 | Tsu | 102.8 |
More on Otaru: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Japan
Sources
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (social and demographic statistics, city, ward, town and village data), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2cb3d8c51aa1…)
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Prefectures 2026 (national figures, "All Japan" row), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b69774a5f40c…)
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